At the end of September, officers in Odessa have convicted fishermen illegally harvesting sturgeon. Moreover, The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) discovered that the criminal activities were covered by two inspectors of the State Fisheries Agency. According to “culturemeter” the Fisheries Agency employees received 50% of the value of the fish caught.
According to the investigation, one entrepreneur paid approximately 500,000 UAH (13,559€) for a year of poaching on 6 boats. At the same time, 20 entrepreneurs with more than 600 boats have permission to catch fish in the Danube and its river mouth area.
On September 26, 2022, SBI officers detained one of the participants of the scheme on receiving part of the bribe. The legal sanction for bribery of officials can reach up to 10 years in prison and confiscation of property.
